Hearth guard

ABSTRACT

The hearth guard includes a plurality of flameproof cotton batting sheets. A rectangular flameproof cloth encases the plurality of flameproof cotton batting sheets. Elastic bands are encased within and affixed inside the cover, situated at and parallel to the top and bottom of the cover, within openings defined by at least one seam. The elastic bands allow for fitting the cover to the hearth. Drawstrings are inserted longitudinally through the top and bottom of the cover, within openings defined by at least one seam. The drawstrings allow for securing the cover to the hearth. The elastic bands and drawstrings may use the same opening or may have separate openings. If separate openings are used, the openings may share a common seam. At least one pair of tie strings is used to secure the cover to an upstanding side. For each pair of tie strings, one tie string is affixed to the edge of the cover, while the remaining tie string is affixed to the opposite edge of the cover. Each tie string extends outwardly from the edge of the cover. Connecting mechanisms other than tie strings can also be used to attach the cover to the anchoring mechanisms. Hooks are fastened or embedded into the upstanding sides for securing the drawstrings and the connecting mechanisms thereto. Anchoring mechanisms other than hooks can also be used to secure the hearth guard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to safety articles and, moreparticularly, is concerned with a guard for protecting against injuriessuffered as the result of falling onto the edge of a hearth.

2. Description of the Prior Art

People of all ages are susceptible to bumps, bruises, cuts, and scrapesof various degrees, often the result of some sort of fall. Children areparticularly susceptible. If the fall is onto an edged surface, theinjury can be severe. A raised hearth, which is a raised refractoryfloor situated in front of a fireplace, exhibits such an edged surface.

The applicants are aware of the following U. S. Patents concerningsafety articles related to fireplaces or used to protect against thedangers of falling onto an edged surface.

    ______________________________________                                        U.S. Pat. No.                                                                           Issue Date Inventor   Title                                         ______________________________________                                        640,700   01/02/00   Reece      FENDER                                        2,430,241 11/04/47   Nicholas   COMBINATION OF                                                                TELEPHONE STAND,                                                              CHAIR, AND                                                                    SCREEN                                        4,117,782 10/03/78   Cahill     GUARD FOR                                                                     PREVENTING HUMAN                                                              INJURIES ON                                                                   IMPACT WITH                                                                   FURNISHINGS                                   4,153,230 05/08/78   Giacin     BABY BUMPERS                                  4,416,251 11/22/83   Rachels, Sr.                                                                             THERMOSHIELD                                  4,527,540 07/09/85   Ryan, et al.                                                                             CHILDREN'S                                                                    SAFETY SHIELD                                                                 FOR APPLIANCES                                ______________________________________                                    

Reece and Nicholas are relevant only in the sense that they teachmechanisms for anchoring against an upright support, Reece being used inconnection with a fireplace. Rachels, Sr., and Ryan, et al., are onlyremotely relevant in that they both have mechanisms for protectingagainst heat-related dangers. Otherwise, each of those four inventionsare dissimilar to the present invention both functionally andstructurally.

Cahill and Giacin both relate to protection of persons, particularly theyoung, against the dangers of sharp-edged objects. They are directedtoward furniture guards. The structure of the hearth guard is differentfrom what is taught by these two patents.

Applicants are also aware that crib liners--which are foam pads tied tothe upright bars of baby cribs to protect the child against bumps--havebeen in use for many years.

Applicants are unaware of any prior art that accomplishes the objects ofthe present invention. Consequently, a need exists for a safety articlewhich will result in decreased injuries suffered as the result offalling onto the edge of a hearth.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a hearthguard that protects against injuries suffered as the result of fallingonto the edge of a hearth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hearth guard that may becustom fit to a variety of hearth shapes and sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hearth guard that iseasily removable from the hearth, but that is durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hearth guard that iswashable.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hearth guard that isdecorative and pleasing to the eye.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an innovative safety device for use withsharp-cornered structures, which overcomes the problems and satisfiesthe needs previously considered. The invented hearth guard protectsagainst injuries suffered as the result of falling onto the edge of astructure, such as a raised hearth, by providing a cushioned surfacesurrounding the edge of the hearth. It allows for customized fitting ofa variety of hearths and is also durable, as well as washable anddecorative.

In summary, the invention encompasses a safety article including afilling substance, such as cotton, kapok, or other similar cushioningmaterial; a cover encasing the filling substance, such as cloth; meansfor fitting the cover to the hearth; and means for securing the cover tothe hearth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the invention in use on a hearth.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the invention showing exteriorpadding, drawstrings, tie strings, and seams.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the invention showing exterior padding,drawstrings, tie strings, and seams.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention showing interiorpadding, seams, drawstrings, elastic bands, and openings for drawstringsand elastic bands.

FIG. 5 is side view of a means for affixing connecting mechanisms (e.g.,one end of a drawstring and one end of a tie string) to an anchoringmechanism, such as a hook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to FIG. 1, thereis shown a hearth guard, generally designated 10, which comprises thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

The invented hearth guard is shown in use with a fireplace 12, havingupstanding sides 14. Generally, a fireplace is situated in the wall of aroom for building a fire therein, although free standing fireplaces arealso becoming more common. A hearth 16 is usually a raised floor, madeof refractory material, situated in front of a fireplace. The mainpurpose of a hearth is to provide a safe area onto which sparks or otherdebris from a fire may fall.

The hearth guard includes a plurality of flameproof cotton battingsheets 18. Alternatively, the filling may be made of foam padding, softrubber, or some other cushioning material, provided it is flameproof,flame resistant, or flame retardant, and gives off non-toxic fumes whenignited or charred. A rectangular flameproof cloth 20 encases theplurality of flameproof cotton batting sheets. The preferred material isflameproof, although the material can be flame resistant or flameretardant. For example, the material can be treated with nonleachableflame retardant chemical, manufactured by Maxichem, Inc., of Charlotte,N.C.

Elastic bands 22 are encased within and affixed inside the cover,situated at and parallel to the top and bottom of the cover, withinopenings 24 defined by at least one seam 26. The elastic bands allow forfitting the cover to the hearth.

Drawstrings 28 are inserted longitudinally through the top and bottom ofthe cover, within openings defined by at least one seam. The drawstringsallow for securing the cover to the hearth. The elastic bands anddrawstrings may use the same opening or may have separate openings. Ifseparate openings are used, the openings may share a common seam.

At least one pair of tie strings 30 is used to secure the cover to theupstanding sides. For each pair of tie strings, one tie string isaffixed to the edge of the cover, while the remaining tie string isaffixed to the opposite edge of the cover. Each tie string extendsoutwardly from the edge of the cover. Means for affixing the tie stringto the cover include sewing, pinning, tying (by inserting the tie stringthrough a grommet 31 affixed to the cover, for example), or by someother bonding process. Connecting mechanisms other than tie strings canalso be used to attach the cover to the anchoring mechanisms.

Hooks 32 are fastened or embedded into the upstanding sides for securingthe drawstrings and the tie strings thereto. The upstanding side may bethe wall or molding beside the hearth, or, alternatively, the hearthitself in the event of a free standing fireplace with no associated wallor molding. Anchoring mechanisms other than hooks can also be used tosecure the hearth guard.

SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that we have invented adevice for protecting persons, particularly children, from catastrophictrauma from falling and striking a sharp-cornered structure.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specificembodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the inventionand the principles thereof, and that various modifications and additionsmay be made to the device by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this invention, which is thereforeunderstood to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A hearth guard, comprising:(a) a filling substancecomprising a plurality of flameproof cotton batting sheets; (b) a coverencasing said filling substance, said cover comprising a rectangularflameproof cloth; (c) elastic bands encased within and affixed withinsaid cover, situated at and parallel to the top and bottom of saidcover, within openings defined by at least one seam; (d) at least onepair of anchoring mechanisms; and (e) a pair of drawstrings, one of saiddrawstrings inserted longitudinally through the top of said cover,within an opening defined by at least one seam, the other of saiddrawstrings inserted longitudinally through the bottom of said cover,within an opening defined by at least one seam, said drawstrings beingadapted for attachment to said anchoring mechanisms.
 2. A hearth guard,comprising:(a) a filling substance; (b) a cover encasing the fillingsubstance; (c) means for fitting the cover to the hearth; and (d) meansfor securing the cover to the hearth, wherein the securing meansincludes:(i) at least one pair of anchoring mechanisms; and (ii) meansfor attaching the cover to the anchoring mechanisms, wherein theattaching means includes:(1) at least one pair of connecting mechanisms;(2) means for affixing the connecting mechanisms to the cover, whereinthe means for affixing the connecting mechanisms to the cover includesone or more pairs of grommets affixed to the cover, equal to the numberof pairs of connecting mechanisms, and connected to each pair ofconnecting mechanisms, for facilitating attachment of connectingmechanisms to anchoring mechanisms; and (3) means for affixing theconnecting mechanisms to the anchoring mechanisms.
 3. The hearth guardas set forth in claim 2, wherein the filling substance comprises aplurality of flameproof cotton batting sheets.
 4. The hearth guard asset forth in claim 2, wherein the cover encasing the filling comprises arectangular flameproof cloth.
 5. The hearth guard as set forth in claim2, wherein the means for fitting the cover to the hearth compriseselastic bands encased within and affixed inside the cover, situated atand parallel to the top and bottom of the cover, within openings definedby at least one seam.
 6. The hearth guard as set forth in claim 2,wherein the anchoring mechanisms comprise hooks.
 7. The hearth guard asset forth in claim 2, wherein each member of a pair of anchoringmechanisms is embedded into opposite upstanding sides of a wall adjacentto the hearth.
 8. The hearth guard as set forth in claim 2, wherein theconnecting mechanisms comprise tie strings made of strips of cloth. 9.The hearth guard as set forth in claim 2, wherein the connectingmechanisms comprise strips of elastic.
 10. The hearth guard as set forthin claim 2, wherein the means for attaching the cover to the anchoringmechanisms comprises drawstrings inserted longitudinally through the topand bottom of the cover, within openings defined by at least one seam.11. The hearth guard as set forth in claim 2, wherein the means foraffixing the connecting mechanisms to the cover includes each connectingmechanism bonded to the edge of the cover for facilitating attachment ofconnecting mechanisms to anchoring mechanisms.